The Jund Shahanshah's Conversion — the Hamra' Daylam

إسلام جند شاهنشاه وهم حمراء ديلم

c. 16 AH

Kufa

In al-Baladhuri via Musammar ibn Kiddam: with Rustam at al-Qadisiyya were four thousand called the Shahanshah's troops; they were granted safe-conduct to settle where they wished, ally with whom they wished, and be allotted stipends — they allied with Zuhra ibn Hawiyya al-Sa'di of Banu Tamim, Sa'd settled them where they chose and fixed a thousand-thousand for them, their naqib being called Dayl — whence 'Hamra' Daylam'. Ziyad later moved some to Syria at Mu'awiya's order — called al-Furs — and some to Basra joining its asawira; the Arabs call the 'ajam hamra', saying 'clan of Hamra' Daylam' as 'clan of Juhayna'. Abu Mas'ud heard these asawira had lived opposite Daylam and converted when the Muslims came to Qazwin, on the same terms as Basra's asawira, then came and settled at Kufa. Al-Mada'ini: Khusraw had sent to Daylam and brought four thousand — his servants and elite, remaining so after him — who witnessed al-Qadisiyya with Dustam; when he fell and the Magians routed they withdrew, saying 'we are not like these, we have no refuge, our standing with them is ugly — our view is to enter their religion and be mighty through them'; Sa'd asked what ailed them, al-Mughira went to them, they told him 'we will enter your religion' — he informed Sa'd, who safe-conducted them; they converted and witnessed al-Mada'in's conquest with Sa'd.